Good morning. I want to get on with stuff today so I am posting here early. I bet you have been wondering what I have been doing the last couple of days, while posting the photo's. Here are the fruits of my labour. Eight shopping bags finished, photo's taken before I give them away. I'm on a use up the fabric crusade. Nothing fancy just bog standard easy to sew bags. They can be folded, washed, chucked in the car, used for groceries, or kept for best. They are handy for carting all sorts of stuff around, library books, swimming gear, baby and toddler stuff, gym wear, and lunch bag for a day out. One of my craft club friends brings her knitting in hers every week and loves it.
I have booked an appointment with the nurse to have the jab, thanks for your input in that matter. The battle with slugs and snails is ongoing, but hey ho, there are some broad beans on the way, and the spuds look great. Six courgette plants should eventually give me something to eat. I wanted to sow some more seeds in a vacant bed, but on lifting the plastic compost bag covering it I found three frogs have set up home there, so only half the bed can be used. Didn't want to destroy their secret hideaway, they are safe from the cats if they stay covered.
Catch you tomorrow. Toodle pip.
What a busy lady you have been Ilona, all those lovely bags you have crafted. they sure will come in handy. I made some years ago some with zips along the tops which gave them a bit more security to hold purses etc. Hope the frogs survive, the cats would find them good playmates no doubt.
ReplyDeleteDanneke
Great job with your bags. They all look great. I suspect you could make them in your sleep by now. Are they made from bits of fabric from op shops?
ReplyDeleteI have no vegies on the go at the moment. I must do some planting because there's something very special about food from your own garden.
So glad I found your blog.
Hi Mary. Not sure what an op shop is. I had a load of fabric from a Scrapstore in Hull. There are Scrapstores all over the country, they collect materials from factories that produce goods, the bits that they throw away, end of line, offcuts, etc. Then they sell it for a few pence to anyone, for crafting purposes.
DeleteThey are fabulous Ilona. You really make some pretty bags. As I've said before mine gets soooo much use. And its much better made than any I have seen to buy, so will be used for years to come I hope.
ReplyDeleteOur veggies are coming on really well. We should have lots of great veg.
X x
Queen of the bag ladies!!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you know how many you've made over the years.
Quite a lot. I have a splurge now and again, then none for a few months.
DeleteMy veggie pots in the garden are ok but the grass/weeds around them are way past my head - doesn't bother me at all and it does not bother me what others think of me either. Natalie
ReplyDeleteWish you lived nearer, you could have some of my fabric stash, it would cost a fortune to post it !
ReplyDeleteI should take a leaf out of your book so to speak and make some bags to give away when I shop at Aldi and Morrisons (not so often). Should I embroider 'Sandie' on my do you think?
Yes, do it. Even if you don't fancy approaching random strangers, give them to friends and family. Sandie would look good on a bag. You've just given me an idea, thanks.
DeleteBrilliant bags, mine's in constant use, I keep meaning to take a photo but it's hard to do when there's only me.
ReplyDeleteGreat bags, the frogs might help you with the slug problem a bit
ReplyDeleteTwiggy x
I wish they would Twiggs. But I don't think they could keep up with the amount there are.
DeleteBeautiful bags and I love how you have personalized them. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so lovely of you! I like the way you have your name embroidered on each bag you make and give away. I'd love to see the faces of the recipients when you offer them a freebie.
ReplyDelete6 Courgette plants !!!! lol are you planning on feeding the village?
ReplyDeleteYes, it seems like it. I do swaps with my neighbour. She gives me tomatoes and strawberries for swaps.
DeleteIlona you are a bag lady in the nicest sense. lol
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
You have been busy. The bags look lovely and beautiful colours too. Sarah
ReplyDeletelovely bags, keep up the good work
ReplyDeleteOh what a smile you brought to my face. The material for the third bag along is just like the curtains my grandparents had in there front room. Made me smile and think of happy times. The bags are lovely as always and hoping the froggies Will keep the snails and slugs down. Laura Xx
ReplyDeleteHi Laura. If you are in the UK I will send you the bag. Put your postal address in a comment, which I won't publish.
DeleteI have read that placing crushed eggshells around your plants will prevent slugs and snails since they can't crawl over the rough edges. Worth a try since it's completely free!
ReplyDeleteI do use egg shells around the plants. It works to keep slugs away.
DeleteYour bags are delightful!
I too have problems with snails ...............they ate all my marigold plants last week! I saw something on a website recently that said to boil a bulb of garlic in a pan of water till it goes mushy, strain off the liquid and add two tablespoons to a litre of water, then use to water plants, the snails hate it and the plants love it...............I have yet to try it out. I love your bags by the way, they are fab. xx
ReplyDeleteHow clever you are! The Bags are gorgeous! I wish I could sew?
ReplyDeleteHi Carol. You could learn, it aint that difficult. Look up how to make a bag, on yoootooob, detailed instructions on there.
DeleteWhat a lovely display the bags make, all together like that! Well done. Bet your recipients will be tickled :)
ReplyDeleteI save clay flower pots with cracks or chips, knock a bigger chunk from the rim, turn it over in a shady garden spot, and invite frogs/toads to move in. No idea if they actually use them, but I saw something similar for sale in a garden shop once, so nothing ventured...and it's another way to use something that would be going to the dump otherwise.
I like the idea with a flowerpot, I have got some of those.
DeleteI will ask at a coffee shop when I am next in town. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteElaine near Philadelphia here. Hi, Ilona! We don't have wild sweet lovely little hedgehogs here in the USA but I do get a mother opossum who has wintered under my fig tree for a couple of winters. (Both the fig tree and the 'possum are unusual in my cold neck of the woods; maybe they like my tiny garden's hospitality.) If I would win one of your lovely bags, I know I will be too, er, selfish to share it this time around. I'd be so happy and proud to keep it for my own modest outings. My 67th birthday is coming in August; I'm so happy I'm finally recovering from the flu TWO TIMES this spring. Stay well and happy.
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